Saturday, October 31, 2009

All Hallows Eve

Halloween night . . . a time when, the old stories say, the veil between this world and the next is thin . . . a time when spirits walk . . . when signs and portents abound . . .

Does this crow bring a message from that world? His eye has a meaningful gaze . . .

From all the coves and hollows, pale mists swirl and rise . . . spirits of the Cherokee . . . the Scot-Irish, the English, the Germans . . . all those who called these mountains home. . .

The mist clings; it whispers in your ears. . . twines in your hair . . . you breath it in and with it all the history of these haunted hills . . . you are part of us forever . . . the voices echo and recede . . .

It's a good night for drawing near the fire and telling ghost stories . . .

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20 comments:

Martin said...

Vicki

This post is a timely reminder of just how fine a line we may be treading between present and past.

Your photographs are well chosen, by the way, and there's a hint of menace in that crow's eye.

Miss_Yves said...

Fantastic post !
Dear Vicki lane: no problem, I understand your reasons !

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Happy Halloween Vicki. My husband had the opportunity to see a crow's eyes up very close recently and he says they are incredible.
Sam

Pat in east TN said...

Woo hoo ... well said ... now can I come over and listen to some good ghost stories?

Carol Murdock said...

Sounds good to me,I'll be right over! :)

Vicki Lane said...

I'll be treading softly today and especially tonight . . . watching and listening . . .

Crows are magnificent birds -- I cared for one with a broken wing once. It was over a month till he was healed and flew away and I got to appreciate his dignity and knowing eye very well.

There were five of them in my front yard yesterday and I tried very hard to get a picture of them all but they're wary birds . . .

NCmountainwoman said...

I love this post. You so beautifully express my feelings about living among the memories of those long gone. I also feel as if I breathe in the history.

It's pouring rain and very windy here but still the fog lingers.

Anonymous said...

Vicki............catching up on your posts......I read A Duty to the Dead recently, and can testify that you made a great choice! Hope to see this author and character(s) again. Your posts are a banquet of words and sights....thanks.

Vicki Lane said...

Mountainwoman -- gray and raining off and on here . . . and the mists everywhere . . .

Anon -- I feel sure this is just the beginning of a series. Bess is a very likable girl -- and probably there's lots more trouble her nursing will lead her into!

maría cecilia said...

Hello Vicki, here in Chile we are just starting to celebrate as in USA this halloween fest, most children do because of the custumes and candies but people here, neither do I, decorate our houses as you do over there.
And children don´t come to my home asking for candies cause I live kind of isolated and far awary.
Muchos cariños
María Cecilia

Kathryn Magendie said...

Wonderful.....

Stella Jones said...

and who better to tell them than you, dear Vicki. I am drawing my chair up to your fire, holding the warmth of my coffee cup and adjusting my ears so as not to miss a whispered word...Blessed be.
Star

Vicki Lane said...

Thanks, Kathryn!

We don't get children visiting either,Maria Cecelia, as we're out in the country, a half a mile up the mountain from the paved road. I used to decorate a little when my boys were young but no more.

It was always a favorite holiday for them -- the pleasure of being just a little scared -- and then, of course, all the candy was something unusual and welcome to them.

Vicki Lane said...

Ah, Star, You sneaked in while I was answering the previous comments.

Shall I tell a tale of a con artist who pretends to speak with the dead who is surprised when they answer?

That's where I am in my work in progress on this misty Halloween!

Victoria said...

Great post, Vicki!

We don't have crows up here, only Ravens. I don't know why there aren't crows. Maybe they don't like the high altitude? I'll have to find the answer to that!

It's mostly clear here, with a few clouds floating around. There's also a strong wind, which is aggravating my husband no end. It keeps blowing the sheets off of his ghosts. OH NO! "Nekked" (as Grandmother would have said) ghosts! LOL

Miss_Yves said...

I think that "coucou" can be translated by "Hi!"

Vicki Lane said...

Maybe the ravens run off the crows, Victoria. We never see ravens around our farm but I know there are some in another part of the county.

Nekked ghosts -- the mind boggles!

Many thanks, Miss Yves! My dictionary just told it was the sound the cuckoo bird makes. I figured it must be a light hearted greeting of some sort.

Margie’s daughter Leiny said...

Happy Halloween Vicki, may the spirits be with you. Hugs, Margie.

Merisi said...

I was reading "All Hollows Eve" - you got me into the spirit, if not the cave .... boohoo! Happy Holloween! :-)

Vicki Lane said...

Happy HallowHolloween to my far flung friends!